Russia says US comments 'a blood-thirsty tirade'

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said US comments about North Korea amounted to a 'bloodthirsty tirade'.

Attacking remarks made by US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, he also said using force against Pyongyang would be 'a big mistake', TASS news agency reported.

Haley earlier this week warned North Korea's leadership it would be 'utterly destroyed' if war were to break out after Pyongyang test fired its most advanced missile, putting the US mainland within range, in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

TASS cited Lavrov (pictured) as saying using force against North Korea would be 'playing with fire' and 'a big mistake' and that Moscow would do everything it could to avoid such a scenario

Haley (pictured at the UN speaking to South Korean ambassador Cho Tae-yul) earlier this week warned North Korea's leadership it would be 'utterly destroyed' if war were to break out after Pyongyang test fired its most advanced missile

TASS reported that Lavrov - who is on a visit to Rome - explained that using force against North Korea would be